Method of making radiators and analogous tubular structures.



J. A. MOPHAYDEN & C. T. DE .VEAUX. METHOD OF MAKING RADIATORS AND ANALOGOUS TUBULAR STRUCTURES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 12,1911 1,014, 03, Patented Jan.9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

Ewe/2:213

UNITED sTA s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MQPHAYDEN AND cHAELEs '1'. DE VEAUX, or cnA'rrANooGA, TENNESSEE.

METHOD OF MAKING 'FIADIATORS ANDANALOGOUS TUBULAR STRUCTURES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN A. MoPHAY-' DEN and CHARLES T. DE VEAUX, citizens of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and .State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Radiators and Analogous Tubular Structures, of which the following is a specification.

The-present invention relates to improvements in the art of making radiators and analogous tubular structures, and the'(primary object of the invention is to provi ea I novel method whereby radiators may be made inexpensively and the hollow tubular body thereof will becomposed of an integral seamless structure of great strength, the

expense and other objections incident. to the soldering, brazing or other modes of joining component parts as usually practiced in the building of structures of this characterbeing avoided, the seamless construction renders theradiator free from leakage even though it may be subjected to vibration and other strains, and, furthermore, the present invention insures theproduction'of a structure of this character which is reinforced in such a manner that it is well pro-' as used upon automobiles whereby the grid or network of relatively small tubes is formed as an integral seamless structure,- and this grid or network of tubes has a marginal reinforcement preferably in the form of an iron,steel, or other strong metal tube which serves for the support of the inclosed grid or network andprevents injury thereto, the tubular grid or network be'i g connected to and communicating witlft e outer reinforcement or tubing without the necessity of using joints or other connections which inthe ordinary forms of automobile radiators are subject to leakage due to vibration of the car or injury. 1

In the accompanying drawing, we have shown certain apparatus by the aid of which the method may be performed, and We have also shown diagrammatically different steps of the method.

Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section through a split or divided mold by the aid of which'a core lS cast which serves Specification of Letters Patent.

as a matrix upon which the tubular structure is formed, the outer reinforcing frame being shown within the mold; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the m old with the reinforcing frame therein and in readiness for the cast; Fig: 3 is a section of the mold Patented'Jan. a, 1912. Application filed May 12, 1911. Serial No. 626,820.

similar toFig. 1 and showing the metal cast therein; Fig. 4 represents a face view of the reinforcing frame and the cast core; Fig. 5

represents an enlarged'section of a portion of the radiator after a layer of metal has been deposited on the core and the surrounding' relnforclng frame; F 1g. 6 1s a view similar toFig. 5 showing the core removed and a second layer of metal deposited upon the structure; Fig. 7 shows in section a third layer or covering of metal deposited thereon; and Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in section of a portion oftaradiator made in accordance with the present invention.

Similar parts are designated by the. same reference characters in the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, we have shown our method as applied to the manufacture of radiators of the type used upon automobiles, as the invention provides for the manufacture of radiators of this type at relatively small expense, and the radiators so made are capable of withstandingthe severe service to'wh'ich radiators of this type are subjected. It will be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to the manufacture of radiators or analogous tubular structures for other purposes. I In manufacturing an automobile radiator in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable to,usea hollow reinforcing'frame .which is adapted to serve as a support for the 'relatively small tubing and as a protecting medium 'therefor the present instance, we have 'shown two pipe sections 1 and 2 which may be composedofiron, steel or' other relatively and 4 the lower ends of which may be connected to a reservoir and the upper horizontal ends may be connected to a'suitable "strong material having the upright legs v3 fitting 5 which has a nipple 6 whereby a section of the radiator may be connected to a suitable min. This hollow reinforcing frame is placed in a mold which is preferably split or composed of two sections 7 and 8, the complement-a1 faces of the mold 'sections'being suitably grooved to accom-- modate the frame although the upper part of the frame as well as the nipple 6 of the fitting is preferably exposed at the top ofthe mold, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The complemental faces of the mold sections are also grooved or otherwise formed to provide. passages 9 which correspond in arrangement or design to that of the tubular grid of the radiator to be made. The inner side of the hollow reinforcing frame is bored or otherwise formed with apertures 10 which correspond to and are in alinement with the passages 9 in the mold, and to facilitate the entrance of the metal into the mold, the hollow frame may also be provided with openings 11 and 12.

After the hollow reinforcing frame has been placed in the mold and the sections thereof have been bolted or otherwise locked together, the mold with the frame therein is immersed in a bath containing molten metal. Metals of different kinds may be used, although a metal having a low fusing point is preferable. It has been found that an alloy composed of equal parts of tin and lead is suitable for the urpose. When the mold has been submerge in the bath ofmolten metal, this metal will enter the mold through the nipple 6 of the fitting 5 and the supplemental openings 11 and 12, the metal' filling the horizontal reinforcing frame and also fiowin out through the apertures 10 therein and entering the pas sages 9 in the mold, thereby forming a solid soft metal grid 13 the -margi ns of which join and are supported by the marginal reinforcing frame.

The reinforcing frame with the cast grid or core supported thereby is then subjected to an electro-plating operation. This operation may be performed by suspending the frame with the gast' metal core or grid therein in an electr c-plating bath. Preferably copper is deposited electrolytically upon the grid serving asa core and upon the marginal reinforcing frame, and to this end, the usualelectro-plating solution of copper sulfate may be used. The electroplating operation is continued until a sufficientthickness of copper has been electrolytically deposited upon the soft metal grid serving as a core and upon the marginal reinforcing frame. The structure may then be removed from the electro-plating bath and dipped into a flux. and after the flux has been applied, the structure is immersed again in a bath of molten metal, preferably of tin and lead, the immersion of the structure in this latter bath accomplishing the double purpose of melting the soft metal core from the grid and the marginal reinforcing frame, and a coating or layer of the metal composing the bath will be deposited upon the entire exterior surface ofthe structure; Fig. 6 represents the structure after this latter operation has been performed, the grid being now tubular and composed of an inner layer 14 of copper and an outer layer 15 of soft met-a1. The

structure is then preferably subjected to a second electro-plating operation whereby a third coating or layer 16 of copper is deposited upon the entire exterior or exposed surface of the structure, and this second electro-plating operation may be continued until the tubular or hollow grid structure is of the desired thickness and strength. By applying the intermediate or second layer 15 ofsoft metal, all minute irregularities in the surface of the first electrolytically deposited layer 14 will be eliminated and the second electrolytically deposited layer or coating 16 will be uniform and even. The final coating of metal upon the structure may be polished or otherwise finished as may be desired.

It is to be understood that the different layers or coatings of metal which compose the tubular body of the radiator are also deposited upon the exterior surface of the marginal reinforcing frame, and this not only insures a-fir'm support for the tubularbody, but the-integral nature of the structure renders the same seamless, thereby avoiding any possibility of leakage. Moreover, the method of depositing the metal in the formation of the structure insures uniform thickness and strength for the walls implement, a smooth continuous metallicv surface is offered for the elctrolytic deposition of the third layer of metal, and this lfatter layer will present a smooth even surace.

Radiators and similar tubular structures constructed in accordance with the present invention will be seamless and free from joints, thereby minimizing liability to leakage, and they also possess great strength and are protected in such manner as to effectually avoid injury.

We claim as our invention 1'. A method of making structures of the class described which comprises forming a grid-like core within a marginal frame, depositing metal onsaid core and frame to completely cover both, and removing the core.

2. A method of making radiators andv similar tubular structures which comprises and remove the core from the forming and supporting a complete metallicmetal core within a marginal frame, electro lytically depositing metal on said core and frame, .and heating the structure to remove the metal core therefrom. Y I

5. A method of making structures of the class described which comprises molding a soft metal core in a hollow marginal frame, electrolytically depositing metal on the core and frame, and heating the structure to melt and remove the metal .core from the interior of the deposited metal and the hollow frame. I

6. A method of making structures of the class described which com-prises molding a soft metal core, electrolytically depositing a layer of metal on the core, and immersing the structure in a molten bath of soft metal to apply a coating of such soft metal to the electrolytically deposited layer and to melt interior thereof.

7. A method of makingstructures of the class described which comprises forming a soft metal core, electrolytically depositing a layer of metal on the exterior thereof, 1mmersing the structure in a molten bath of soft metal to apply a coating of soft metal to the surface 0 the elctrolytically deposited layer of metal and to melt and remove the soft metal core from the interior thereof,

and elctrolytically depositing a layer of metal on the soft metal coating.

8. A method of making structures of the class described which comprises forming a core of soft metal, electrolytically depositing a layer of metal thereon, applying a flux to said layer of metal, immersing the structure in a molten bath of soft metal to apply a coating of soft metal to said layer of metal and to melt and remove the core. and electrolytically depositing a layer of metal on the coating of soft metal.

. 9. A methodof making structures of the class described which comprises placing a hollow reinforcing frame in a sectional mold, casting a grid of soft metal in the mold, electrolytically depositing a layer of metal upon the exterior of the grid and frame, applying a flux to said layer of metal, immersing the structure in a molten bath of soft metal to apply a coating of soft metal to said layer and. to melt and remove the core from the interior thereof, and electrolytically depositing an additional layer of metal on the coating of soft metal.

10. A method of making radiators and analogous structures which comprises forming a grid-like core, electrolytically depositing a' layer of metal on the core, applying .a coating of relatively soft metal to said layer to close the pores and irregularities thereof, and electrolytically depositing a layer of metal on said coating of soft metal,

the core being removed to make the grid-like I structure thus produced hollow.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. McPHAYDEN. CHARLES 'r. DE VEAUX.

Witnesses:

CHAS. CA'rr, S. H. OAMBBELL. 

